We've finally booked a family trip to Scotland, something I've wanted to do my whole life! Going in May and using Edinburgh as our home base and daytripping.
Anyone have recommendations for places to go, do, eat, etc?
Positive replies only. This is my dream trip so don't spoil it, please & thanks.
Anyone have recommendations for places to go, do, eat, etc?
Positive replies only. This is my dream trip so don't spoil it, please & thanks.
Comments
Hey Palu - Cocktail bar
Larder - Breakfast spot/coffee
The Bon Vivant - restaurant
Take a nice stroll through the Dean Village area if the weather is nice.
Have fun! Edinburgh is my favorite city in Europe!
https://www.maidoftheforth.co.uk/
Take day trips by bus 🚌
Let them do the driving 😉
And of course, if you are into Harry Potter and want a trip on the train... https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/steam-train-trip
Glen Etive
Oban
Aviemore/Cairngorm
The Trossarchs/Loch Lomond
Stirling Castle
The Wallace Monument
Bannockburn.
Red bus tours up to Loch Ness and Highlands
We never went to the big castle in Edinburgh because of the lines, but there are SO many little castles scattered around. Even unguided it was so fun exploring
I attended a #SystemsEngineering Conference there in 2017.
On my Off Day, before heading home, I walked around the city-for no less than 10 hours-taking pictures of all the places used in the #BBC mini-Series, "North & South".
Very close to the Kelpies (about an hour from Edinburgh)
https://www.rosslynchapel.com/
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/melrose-abbey/
https://www.greattapestryofscotland.com/the-making-of-the-tapestry/
https://dunnettcentral.org/
May be also some stuff for you!
Angels with Bagpipes: upscale and fantastic
The Conan Doyle: touristy and disappointing
Do try haggis. It was more delicious than we expected.
Also take a walk through leith Very cool part
Of Edinburgh
Remember a raincoat and sunscreen 😂
Dundee, V&A, RSS Discovery
East Neuk of Fife
Edinburgh:
-Main tourist stuff
-Mary Kings Close
-The Elephant House (if an HP fan)
-Walk the Royal Mile
-The Botanic Gardens
Others:
Stirling (an hour or so on a train)
Glasgow (40 mins on a train)
North Berwick (30 mins on a train - eat go to Lobster Shack)
In Edinburgh, I would walk around central Edinburgh, like the walk under the dean bridge (small bridge circle central Edinburgh) as the walk next to the river is nice, right below the main streets.
Beatrix Potter, St Andrews, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle
Check out the top 20 things to see and do Scotland.
If you would consider a trip south of the border Alnmouth is on the line and it's one of my favourite places in the world. The beautiful beach is about a mile's walk from the station.
Also, try the Deuchars IPA. the best thing about Edinburgh.
And the Dovecot gallery is not to be missed! Plus a hike up Arthur's Seat...
I absolutely loved it but wasn’t there long enough so will defer to others to give you recommendations.
Have a wonderful time!
The Kelpies
Rosslyn Chapel
Morayshire is beautiful.
Don't bother with Aberdeen - grey & dismal.
Loch Ness is a tourist nightmare!
All worth seeing and different.
In all seriousness, sounds awesome. Enjoy your trip!
For some amazing glen/train viaduct views (with added harry potter connection), plus one of the most stunning loch views, would recommend Glenfinnan
If you can spare a day for Glasgow (not far), Kelvingrove and the Burrel Collection. And the Willow Tearooms in Glasgow for a bit of Rennie Mackintosh.
Edinburgh in itself has many wonders like the castle, museum, and everything in and around the mound.
https://www.caithnessglass.co.uk/visit-caithness-glass
And may I suggest a one-way ticket.
Ah - on my bucket list. Have a great time!
we stayed in edinburgh too.
take the train to anywhere ( we went to Glasgow)
climb Arthurs Peak
See the castle.
Take a day tour.
Eat chinese food - it is so different than here
expect to shop small for a couple of days at a time
Take reusable bags
wear comfy shoes
get currency before you leave if you can
expect to walk a lot
taxis are easy to get
they hate trump :)
there is so much to do in the city.
Please feel free to dm me if you have specific questions
we are trying to plan another trip with the teen next year 😄
They do ghost tours, too, the ones that take you into the underground are interesting
You can climb Arthur's seat for amazing views, and visit the castle
Glasgow has a good museum, and is generally more shoppy than Edinburgh, though Edinburgh has more boutiques I think. Edinburgh has amazing bookshops
Stirling isn't far by train either. It's small, less to see and do, but with a good castle that's not
May should be nice-wish weather (August is better weather, but August is also the festival)
Go to Glasgow then up the west coast on the Harry Potter train. I could go on and on. I grew up in Thuso and miss it terribly.
Shops, eateries, pubs, etc, for all tastes.
If you can make it Isle of Skye I highly recommend it!
We visited the little town where Oulander was shot: Falkland. Too many places to name. People were friendly—
Victoria Street is very touristy, but still beautiful and fun to see.
“Talisker Distillery - This is a whiskey distillery on the Isle of Skye. It stands alone in the scenic landscape facing the bay, and the atmosphere is outstanding. As the Talisker logo says, it feels "Made by the Sea.””
In Edinburgh do the tour of the catacombs/ underground vaults but buy tickets in advance. If you plan for the day of you might not get tickets.
If you like Scotch: Edradour Distillery tour
Holyrood Palace at the bottom of the High Street if you like royal stuff, but that’s in Edinburgh.
https://youtu.be/krQs57RUupQ?si=aeETXmZT0gt13_ff